Mardi Gras to some... Carnaval to me!

So as many of you  know this weekend started the beginning of the French celebration Mardi Gras.  Well for those of us living in a Spanish-speaking country it is called Carnaval!  First to start with my usual quote I have one from Samuel Johnson.

"The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are"

I love this quote because half the time I feel like I am living a dream and that this can't be reality because how did I get this lucky to see all the great things around the world.  I mean how many people get to celebrate Carnaval in Spain?? So after reflecting on this weekend and thinking about my upcoming travels it's nice to re read this quote and reaffirm for myself that for the time being this is my reality and I love it and the changes I'm going through.  I am truly blessed!

So a group of us decided to go to Cadiz to celebrate Carnaval.  Cadiz has one of the largest Carnaval celebrations in Spain hence why we decided to go here.  First I must say thanks to Maria for finding a marvelous apartment for us to stay in. First it overlooked the plaza where everything was happening for Carnaval and second it was a tower... no joke a tower and it was amazing.  We had 3 different balconies and could see almost all of Cadiz since it was the penthouse suite.  So clearly she did a great job! This is what it looks like from the outside from our first balcony! Also I should say that it only sleeps 6 comfortably and we had 10 people sleeping there at one point.  Honestly it wasn't too bad and the best place to stay.  Also the owner lived right below us so we had to creep around a lot but it was totally worth it. 

The first day I arrived the weather was a little overcast as you can see in photos which are all on the picasa photostream at the bottom of the page!  We walked around some despite the weather and one of the girls got to taste raw sea urchin!  Cadiz is on the coast so they have fresh seafood everywhere and the guy told us that someone had gone and gotten these sea urchins off the rocks earlier that day.  It also rained some that night so we didn't really do too much the first night we were there.  We went out in the plaza at our apartment which you can see part of in the picture to the left and saw the crowning of the Carnaval Queen.  I didn't expect to see that.  On the second day we awoke to beautiful weather and started with breakfast on the second balcony!   This is a view from the second balcony and a picture of everyone (minus Melissa) eating breakfast!  What a great way to start the day.  Since some of the group hadn't ever visited Cadiz (I went in 2009 when I came to Spain to study abroad) we decided to do some walking around and discover the city and beach before all the festivities really began.  During the day is more or less the festival for the children so they are all dressed in costumes and throwing confetti and silly string on each other.  It is really cute and you will see some pictures that I tried to take of some kids without looking like a weirdo.  We made it to the beach and the weather was great and we literally sat on the beach all day and talked, laughed, and drank a little tinto de verano (popular wine drink in the summer). It was a perfect and very relaxing day.  It was so hot that I wish I would have had my bathing suit on instead of jeans and a tank top.  Keep in mind we are still in February and if you look on a map it is actually a little further north latitude wise than Hickory, NC so it shouldn't be that much warmer.

That night we celebrated one of the girl's birthdays and dressed up in costumes (pretty much like Halloween except they are really creative here)  and celebrated the way locals do.  First we enjoyed dinner at an Argentinean restaurant (delicious) and then, as is Spanish tradition,  stood outside with wine or beer and watched musical performances by different groups in costumes for Carnaval. It was actually very interesting and fun!  What a great way to experience a traditional Carnaval.  People stayed up all night and when I say all night when I walked to the train station this morning at 7:15 there were still a lot of people still going strong.  The town was a complete mess and they have to do it all over again next weekend.  Cadiz is located in the Andalusia region of Spain which is my favorite area so I am a little biased and must say I love this city and some of the other major cities in the area.  It was a great time with great friends and after seeing some of the parades for Mardi Gras in New Orleans (the weekend before Mardi Gras started)  I think they are both very similar in the way they are celebrated.  Especially since during the week in Cadiz they will also be having large parades.  It was very cultural especially being a Spanish teacher and a great way to experience something similar to Mardi Gras with a different name in a beautiful city in the world.

Also thanks to the wonderful roommate I have started a food blog which I attempt to update everyday that I cook something that she approves of so make sure to start following it too!
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Amsterdam... nothing is ever the way you think it is!

I know it's been a while since last posting but we waited to travel until last weekend so I haven't had much to write about.  Funny story for some of my friends back home... if you know me or my friends then you know we like to dance and have fun everywhere we go.  So along the way we have mastered some dance moves... many from famous music videos.  If you know the song Cat Daddy or the music video (if you are a teacher I'm sure your students have heard of it) then you know but for others the jist of the dance move is to do your arms in a circular motion at your side while bending your legs to make it look like you are moving a wheelchair.  I was trying to explain what a wheelchair was in English without using the world in Spanish so I was attempting to pantomime the word which turned into me doing the Cat Daddy for the class.  I looked like an idiot clearly and to my surprise after they were finished laughing they said she knows how to do the Cat Daddy...  in conclusion I didn't think they would know what it was and in the process I made myself look like an idiot... although as a teacher couldn't be happier because now they know what a wheelchair is and will never forget!  

So this past weekend Melissa and I traveled to Amsterdam for her birthday.  What a great time but as always I must start with a quote from Mark Jenkins.  

"Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.”

 I think that this quote has true meaning especially on this adventure that I am taking in my life.  It has forced me out of my comfort zone and away from the people and places that I have known for a long time.  And after this trip to Amsterdam I must say that nothing is black and white (although I knew this before it was just reaffirmed in a LARGE way).

To start the trip we got to the airport early, which we always do because we like to take our time and just relax and not worry about anything.  Also we were flying a legit airline this time (not a budget airline) because it was the cheapest flight to Amsterdam.  When we arrive the woman at the check-in desk proceeds to tell me that she is putting me on a different flight because they are going to cancel the later one and that the new flight just started boarding.  I was totally okay with this because it was going to give us more time in Amsterdam.  As we get through security I ask Melissa what row number she is and she says 2 (mine is 3) and I laugh and say watch we are probably at the back of the plane... which now looking back at it I'm an idiot because the numbers don't start at the back of the plane.  So we get on the plane and discover we've been upgraded to business class!! What a great start to Melissa's birthday weekend.  We make it in to town and despite having food on the plane we are starving.  (No not what you're thinking we were just starving)  So we decide to walk up to a local Dutch restaurant that is famous for it's food and location.  It is in the old tax house so it had a really good atmosphere.  We ordered the special which was soup, meat and a beer.  So the plate comes out and looks like this:

 Which isn't bad... but considering we paid 12.50 we were expecting a little more.  So the waiter comes back to the table (keep in mind he speaks English but it's not the best) and I ask him if we can have an order of french fries to share and he looks at me confused and says "Why?  You just so hungry?" and I reply with "Yes actually, we are."  He then proceeded to tell me that french fries came with the special and that there was another plate coming.  After he left Melissa and I laughed until we cried and were then pleasantly surprised with the second plate.  Which consisted of french fries and kabobs!

 Then we walked around the Red Light District because most of the monuments close before 6 so there wasn't much to do in Amsterdam and we were close by and wanted to see it.  So I wouldn't say that I have lived a sheltered life or anything and I definitely knew what to expect from Amsterdam but it is still a culture shock!  To see it first hand or walk down a street and smell weed it is just completely different than home.  This part of my adventure was my firsthand encounter with the world and it definitely changed some perspectives for me.  Later on Sunday we walked to the Old Church (the oldest monument in Amsterdam) and literally across the street from the entrance are half-naked women standing in windows.  No offense mom but I was literally thinking to myself my mom would definitely not come to church here or she would freak out if she walked out of church and saw this.  This is not a big deal to anyone in Amsterdam because they are much more liberal and free spirited.  But still... it was just something I'm not used to... but I'm here to discover the world and all the different places.  

Aside from this and the snow and freezing temperatures,  Amsterdam was a pleasant surprise.  I loved it.  I HAVE to go back!  On Sunday morning we visited the Anne Frank house.  Truly amazing if you have read her book you can bring to life her story.  After this we went to the Van Gogh museum which was educational.  I learned a lot about Van Gogh and his life and how his style of art changed over time.  Although some of his most famous pieces are not in the museum the pieces they had were amazing!  Then we went on a canal cruise which was crazy because as you can tell from most of my pictures (in the picasa photostream) that the canals are frozen over.  Still very beautiful and learned a lot about Amsterdam.  Afterwards we went to the Gassan Diamond factory.  In case you didn't know Amsterdam is one of the largest diamond industries in the world.  This doesn't mean they are found there they are just processed and made into jewelry here and then sold.  So we got to see how diamonds are made and of course the most important thing for any female we learned about the 4 C's: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat!  After this we attempted to do a cheese tasting (we needed reservations.... it just means I have to go back :))  Then we went to the Heineken factory and saw the history and making of this famous beer.  We also got 3 beers along the way... and I got an extra one for getting a question right (and I think because I was girl... bartender was a guy)  so I split this fourth one with Melissa since it was her birthday!!  After this everything was pretty much closing down and we were starving so we decided to try a traditional dutch pancake restaurant.  The picture above says it all!  It was a Dutch pancake with apples, cinnamon ice cream, whipped cream, powdered sugar, and cinnamon!  Delicious (and huge)!!!  

The people of Amsterdam were very nice... maybe 2nd to Germany on hospitality.  Also the city wasn't too dirty and it was stunning.  While my experience in Amsterdam made me experience life outside of my "bubble"  which is a necessity during my adventure... it also made me appreciate home and where I come from.  I'm proud to be from a small town in the country.  Also proud to be born and raised in the South!  This adventures just helps me appreciate what I have and open my mind to a different lifestyle.  Overall a beautiful city... and hopefully I will get a return in the Spring to see the beautiful tulips!